Hinge



May 14, 1940.

H. J. DUDLEY 2,200,418

. HINGE F'iled March 28, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 jg- /i 2% I o f H. J. DUDLEY 2,200,418

HINGE Filed March 28, 1939 .4 Sheets-Sheet 2 i NW1! 0 @I I v v i J Mg! I 9.6.

Inventor jefjadiqy 4/ B35 M fi A tiorr zeys y 1 H. J. DUDLEY- 7 0 18 HINGE Filed March 28, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 NEH I Jim I o Inventor Attorneys May 14, 1940.

Filed March 28, 1939 H. J. DUDLEY HINGE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I ill] Il 5 M" if 7 Z 6 w 027 M Inventor A itormgys Patented May 14, 1940 UNITED sTT PATENT OFFICE- 9 Claims.

The present invention relates to a hinge structure for doors and'the like and has for its primary object to provide a cylinder attached to the stationary portion of the hinge and a piston working in the cylinder and attached to the movin part of the hinge to form an air check to prevent slamming or sudden closing of the door.

A further object of the invention is to provide a door hinge in which the piston is mounted on a lo stem having screw threaded engagement with the cylinder to support the door for gravitating closing movement and also embodying a catch construction to secure the door in any desired open position. p

Another object is to provide a hinge structure of this character which is strong and durable, neat and attractive in appearance, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the de tails of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which- Figure l is a vertical sectional view through the cylinder of the hinge.

Figure 2 is a side elevational View of the screwthreaded stem and adjustable catch means carried thereby. T

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the assembled hinge structure.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on a line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary edge elevational view of the lower outer end of the stem attachable to one of the hinge plates.

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view through .a

modified form of hinge construction.

Figure '7 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view through the cylinder of the hinge structure shown in Figure 6 and with the piston and stem removed.

Figure 8 is a side elevational View of the assembled hinge embodying the modification shown in Figure 6.

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view of a further modification embodying a thread to thread en-.

gagement between the cylinder and the stem, and

Figure 10 is a side elevational View thereof. Figure 11 is a fragmentary sectional view of a modified form of automatic door stop. Figure 12 is a similar view showing the stop in position for automatic actuation 'upon a predetermined movement of the door.- 7

Figure 13 is a transverse sectional view through the stop, and

Figure 14 is a perspective' view'of the actuating 5 lever for the stop.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, and

with particular reference to Figures l to 5 inclusive, the numeral 5 designates a stationary hinge plate attachable to a door jamb and to the outer edge portion of which is integrally formed a cylinder 6, the intermediate portion'of the interior walls of the cylinder being formed with a threaded construction I. Extending within the cylinder is a stem 8 having external threads 15 9 formed thereon adapted for threaded engagement with the threaded formations l of the cylinder, the upper faces of the threads I havinga groove l0 formed therein while the lower faces of the threads 9 have similar grooves H formed an therein adapted to accommodate ball bearings iii to provide anti-friction means between the supporting surfaces of the threads of the stem 8. The lower end of the stem 8 projects through the lower open end of the cylinder 6 and is of substantially rectangular formation in cross section as shown at I3 for attaching to a hinge plate M by means of clamping plates [5, the hinge plate l4 being adapted for attaching to a door which is swingably supported by the hinge.

A piston I6 is secured by a threaded stem I1 to the upper end of the stem 8, the piston having a working fit in the upper portion of the cylinder 5 and in a cap 18 threaded on the'upper end of said cylinder. The top of the cap is is formed with an opening having tapered walls I!) and snuglyfitted in the opening is a rod 20 attached to the piston lb. The walls of the rod '20 are formed with a-pvertically extending groove 2|, the upper and lower portions of which are interrupted by a solid abutment 22. During the working movement of the piston 16 in the cylinder the vacuum in the chamber 23 above the cylinder is broken by reason of the fact that the grooves 2i provide atmospheric communication 45 with thechamber, except during a predetermined movement of the piston while the solid abutment 22 is passing through the restricted portion of the opening 29, and accordingly during such period atmospheric communication with the chamber 50 23 is closed whereby the vacuum in the chamber will retardmovement of the piston and thus pre-, vent slamming or sudden closing movement of the door to which the hinge plate M is attached.

The top of the cap I8 is also provided with an 55 air check valve 24 arranged for opening move ment during the upward movement of the piston l6, as will be apparent.

The lower portion of the stem 8 is provided with a vertically extending toothed formation 25 which extends continuously around the stem and the walls of the cylinder 6 are formed with a boss 26 having a slotted opening 21 within which is slidably inserted a catch 28 having a pointed inner end 29 adapted for engagement by the teeth 25 to secure the stem against movement in one direction, that is, a closing movement of the door. The catch 28 is provided with a screw 36 which is slidable in a slotted opening 3| formed in the bore to limit outward movement of the catch.

Figures 6 to 8 inclusive of the drawings illustrate a reverse arrangement of the parts, the hinge plate 32 on which the cylinder 33 is formed being adapted for attaching to the door while the hinge plate 34 is adapted for attaching to the door jamb. In this form of the invention the threads 35 of the cylinder rest upon the ball bearings 36 which are-supported on the threads 37 of the stem 38. In this construction the stem remains stationary while the cylinder rotates around the stem during the opening and closing movements of the door and the piston 69 attached to the upper end of the stem likewise remains stationary.

The cap 46 is provided with the opening 4| having its restricted portion 42 at a point intermediate the upper and lower edges of the opening in the cap. The vacuum control rod 43 which projects upwardly from the piston has a reduced lower end 44 to admit air into the cap above the piston during the final closing movement of the door and the air check valve 45 in the top of the cap likewise prevents the creation of a vacuum in the top of the cylinder during the opening movement. The upper end of the rod 43 is formed with the vertically extending groove 46 while the portion of the rod between the reduced lower end 44 and the groove is solid and has a snug working fit with the restricted portion 42 of the opening 4| whereby to momentarily .close atmospheric communication with the top of the cylinder as the door approaches its closed position, whereby to prevent slamming or sudden closing movement thereof.

The lower surfaces of the threads 35 of the cylinder are preferably formed with recesses 41 for accommodating the ball bearings 36.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 9 and 10 of the drawings the construction is similar to that illustrated in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive except that the ball bearings are eliminated and the upper hinge plate 48 which is attached to the door jamb has the cylinder 49 provided with the threads 56 which have direct engagement with the threads 5| of the stem 52, the stem being secured to the hinge plate 53 which is attached to the door for swinging movement therewith.

In each form of the invention described above the catch means for adjustably securing the door in a desired open position is of identical construction, and accordingly a detailed reference thereto in each form of the invention is not deemed necessary. Likewise, the air checking feature embodying the piston 54 and the air check rod 55 shown in Figure 9 of the drawings is identical to the construction previously described with respect to Figure 1.

In Figures 11 to 14 inclusive I have illustrated a modified form of automatic stop catch for retaining the door in a predetermined open position, the cylinder 56 having a casing 51 formed on one side thereof within which is slidably mounted a locking bolt 56 having its inner end projecting into the cylinder and its outer end projecting outwardly of the casing and provided with a manipulating head 59. The inner end of the bolt is engageable with the teeth 66 formed on the stem 6| as a continuation of the threads thereon, whereby to lock the stem against movement relative to the cylinder.

The lower edge of the bolt is provided with a notch 62 within which is inserted the upper end of a link 63, said link being pivoted intermediate its ends as at 64 to the casing. The lower end of the link is seated in a notch 65 formed in the upper edge of a bar 66 slidably mounted in the casing and having a rounded inner end 61 projecting into the cylinder in the path of a pair of lugs 68 also formed on the stem beneath the teeth 60.

A leaf spring 69 is mounted in the casing with one end engaging the bolt 58 to yieldably project the bolt and a stop 10 is formed on the bolt engageable with the casing to limit outward movement of the bolt.

The casing is formed with a horizontal partition TI having an opening 12 through which the link 63 works and the upper surface of the partition is provided with a pair of rounded notches 13 for receiving rounded humps 14 on the under side of the bolt to maintain the bolt in its inwardly projected position.

It will be noted the notch 62 is of sufiicient size to permit limited movement of the link 63 before resulting in an actuation of the bolt.

Accordingly in the operation of the automatic stop, with the parts in the position as shown in Figure 12; when the door is in its closed position, an opening movement of the door will cause the lugs 68 to engage the bar 66, thus actuating the bolt 58 into engagement with the teeth 68 to retain the door in a predetermined open position. A manual retracting movement of the bolt will release the door and by reason of the play between the bolt and the link, the bolt may be retracted sufficiently to disengage itself from the teeth to permit the return of the lug 68 past the bar 66 before the latter is projected inwardly for subsequent actuation by the lug.

It will be apparent that during the opening swinging movement of the door that by reason of the threaded engagement between the stem and the cylinder that the door will also be raised upwardly, thus preventing interference with rugs or other floor covering.

It is believed the details of construction and manner of operation of the device will be readily understood from the foregoing without further detailed explanation.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is: I

l. A door hinge comprising a hinge plate attachable toa door jamb and a hinge plate attachable to a door, a cylinder carried by one of the hinge plates, a stem carried by the other hinge 6 plate, a screw engagement between the cylinder and stem to cause relative longitudinal movement between the stem and cylinder during swinging movement of the door, said cylinder having an air chamber therein, a piston carried 2. A door hinge comprising a hinge plate attachable to a door jamb and a hinge plate attachable to a door, a cylinder carried by one of the hinge plates, a stem carried by the other hinge plate, a screw engagement between the cylinder and stem to cause relative longitudinal movement between the stem and cylinder during swinging movement of. the door, said cylinder having an air chamber therein, a piston carried by the stem having a working fit in the chamber and means controlling atmospheric communication with the chamber during movement of the door in one direction to momentarily retard movement oi the piston.

3. A door hinge comprising a hinge plate attachable to a door jamb and a hinge plate attachable to a door, a cylinder carried by one of the hinge plates, a stem carried by the other hinge plate, a screw engagement between the cylinder and stem to cause relative longitudinal movement between the stem and cylinder during swinging movement of the door, said cylinder having an air chamber therein, a piston carried by the stem having a working fit in the chamber and means controlling atmospheric communication with the chamber during a predetermined period of the closing movement of the door to temporarily restrain movement thereof.

4. A door hinge comprising a hinge plate attachable to a door jamb and a hinge plate attachable to a door, a cylinder carried by one of the hinge plates, a stem carried by the other hinge plate, a screw engagement between the cylinder and stem to cause relative longitudinal movement between the stem and cylinder during swinging movement of the door, said cylinder having an air chamber therein, a piston carried'by the stem having a working fit in the chamber and means controlling atmospheric communication with the chamber during a predetermined period of the closing movement of the door to temporarily restrain movement thereof, and catch means carried by the cylinder and engageable with the stem for securing the door in a desired open position.

5. A door hinge comprising a hinge plate attachable to a door jamb: and a hinge plate attachable to a door, a cylinder carried by one of the hinge plates, a stem carried by the other hinge plate, a screw engagement between the cylinder and stem providing a gravitating closing movement for the door, catch means carried by the cylinder and engaging the stem for securing the door in adjustable open position and air check means between the cylinder and the stem and operable during a limited intermediate closing period of the door to retard closing movement thereof.

6. In a door hinge embodying a stationary part and a rotary part, and automatic catch means 7. In a door hinge embodying a stationary part and a rotary part, and automatic catch means between said stationary and rotary parts to retain the door in a predetermined open position, said catch means comprising an annular row of teeth on one part, a slidable bolt carried by the other part engageable with the teeth, and means actuated by the said one part and connected with the bolt for projecting the bolt into engagement with said teeth.

8. In a door hinge embodying a stationary part and a rotary part, and automatic catch means between the stationary and rotary parts to retain the door in a predetermined open position, said catch means comprising teeth on the rotary part, a casing on the stationary part, a spring projected bolt slidably mounted in the casing, one end of the bolt engaging said teeth and the other end of the bolt projecting outwardly of the casing and having a manipulating head, recesses in the casing and humps on the bolt engageable therein adapted to retain the bolt in projected position, projections on the rotary part, a bar slidably mounted in the casing having one end in the path of said projections for actuation of the bar upon a predetermined movement of the door and. a link connecting the bar to the bolt and arranged to oppositely actuate the bolt and the bar.

9. In a .door hinge comprising a hinge plate attachable to a door jamb anda hinge plate attachable to a door, a cylinder carried by one of the hinge plates, a stem carried by the other hinge plate, a screw engagement between the cylinder and stem to cause relative longitudinal movement between the stem and cylinder during swinging movement of the door, said cylinder having an air chamber therein, a piston carriedby the stem having a working fit in the chamber,

said chamber having atmospheric communication during the initial and final movements of the door and means temporarily closing said atmospheric communication during a predetermined intermediate closing movement thereof to temporarilyretard said movement.

HARRY J. DUDLEY. 

